Brandon Inge

Brandon Inge is a professional Major League baseball player, who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers organization out of Virginia Commonwealth College in 1998. He was recommended and signed by Rob Guzik. While in college, Brandon filled the role of both a relief pitcher and shortstop. Inge was named a Second-Team All-American by Baseball America and earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors as a relief pitcher in 1996, 1997 and 1998. He also earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors as a shortstop in 1997.

He was inducted into the Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics Hall of Fame on December 11, 2004. In 2006 his uniform number was retired by Brookville High School in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Brandon, his wife Shani and two sons, Tyler and Samuel make their off-season home in Salem, South Carolina. His family plays a large role in community and charity work such as "Tigers Dreams Come True" and the "Detroit Tigers Autographed Memorabilia Donation Program". He visits and interacts with patients at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital along with his wife Shani and has served as a spokesman for Major League Baseball's "Father's Day" program to support the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Inge regularly participates in post-game autograph signings and online auctions to benefit the Nerve Re-Routing Project. Along with Carlos Guillen, he hosted "Keeping Kids in the Game" to help raise over $225,000 to benefit DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Fundacion Chamos Venezolanos and the Detroit Tigers Foundation.

Brandon is a regular member of the Detroit Tigers Winter Caravan.http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/components/team/player/bio_iframe.html?is_mug_shot=true&roster_cid=det&cid=det&player_id=276346

After undergoing off-season surgery on both knees, Brandon began Spring Training on a rehabilitation program. He had his first at bat late in camp and saw little game action, but was still in the Detroit Tigers opening day lineup. He started the season hot, but after 20 games has produced only two Home Runs.

He has been solid on defense, but sometimes plays ground balls into tough chances, which he manages to handle. Brandon has shown he still has tremendous range and snags balls some 3rd basemen may not get to.

With the loss of Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco during the winter, the Tigers are hoping Inge can supply them with more offense in a lineup starting 2 or 3 and sometimes 4 rookies.

As always in Detroit, Fans either love or hate Inge. When you look around the stands, you always see Inge jerseys, but you also hear the boos when he is announced.

After the first 20 games of the season, Brandon is hitting .270, with 2 Home Runs, 9 Doubles and 11 RBIs.http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=276346

Brandon had a solid first half and was voted into the All Star game as part of the fans voting for the final All Star roster spot. He was helped immensely by a huge advertising campaign conducted by the Tiger organization. Inge was placed in the Home Run Derby contest and became only the 8th player in history to fail to reach the seats even once.

During the first half of the season, Inge crushed 21 home runs had 58 RBIs for the Tigers. After the All Star game he tailed off considerably, hitting below.200 and dropping his season average to .230. His home run stroke, (6 Home Runs) was virtually non-existent as the Tigers lost a large lead and handed first place in their division over to the Minnesota Twins. Inge played the second half of the season on ailing knees, and had off-season surgery on both to correct the problem.

He finished the season with 27 home runs, 88 RBIs and hitting .230, only 6 points below his lifetime average. Always one of the leaders in fanning, he struck out 170 times, second in the league.

2008 Season

Brandon finished the season with a .205 Average, 11 Home Runs and 51 RBIs in 347 at bats. He was re-instated as the starting 3rd baseman after Carlos Guillen was moved to Left-Field and Miguel Cabrera was moved to 1st base.

2007 Season

Inge finished the season with a .236 Average, 14 Home Runs, and 71 RBIs in 548 at bats.

2006 Season

Brandon was the starting 3rd baseman as the Tigers won the American League championship before losing in the World Series to the St. Louis cardinals. He finished the season with a .253 Average, 27 Home Runs, and 83 RBIs in 542 at bats. In the Post Season he hit .353 in 17 At Bats.http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2006_WS.shtml

2005 Season

As the full time 3rd baseman, Brandon carried a .261 Average, and produced16 Home Runs and 72 RBIs in 616 at bats.

2004 Season

Inge took over the role of utility player for the Tigers, after the acquisition of Ivan Rodriguez.. He produced his highest batting average of his career, .287 and hit 13 Home Runs while driving in 64 runs in 408 at bats

2003 Season

Brandon caught 104 games for the Tigers. He produced a .203 Average, 08 Home Runs and 30 RBIs in 330 at bats.

2002 Season

Playing primarily at the catching position Brandon hit for a .202 Average with 7 Home Runs and 24 RBIs in 321at bats

2001 Season

Brandon made his Major League with the Detroit Tigers as a catcher, he completed the season with a .180 Average, 0 Home Runs, and 15 RBIs in 189 at bats.